Good-bye 2009 and the unnamed first decade of the new millenium! Hello 2010 and another difficult to name decade! I spent nearly the entire year in France, other than my three weeks in Italy, and I’ll likely be in France for all of the new year as well. Best wishes to all!
Here’s some reading material and ideas for New Year’s Resolutions for you:
Grenoble is a city of superlatives. One of the largest cities in France, Grenoble is also one of the hottest in summer and coldest in winter, and had the world’s first urban cable-car.
It’s the third Thursday in November, which means that the year’s Beaujolais Nouveau is being drunk in France and all over the world. Learn a bit about this annual wine fest: Beaujolais Nouveau
The north-eastern French region of Lorraine is the only one that borders three countries (Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany) and that has two cities of equal importance (Metz and Nancy). Despite what some people told me, Metz is a very beautiful city, and the cathedral in particular is spectacular.
Nice Carnaval is the largest winter event on the French Riviera. In 2009, Carnaval de Nice took place from 13 February to 1 March, and the theme was Roi des Mascarades (King of Masquerades). With 20 tall floats (up to 14 meters / 46 feet high); 20 flower floats; 200 “big heads”; and countless dancers, musicians, and other participants – not to mention tens of thousands of spectators, it was a fun and crazy celebration.
Colmar is a small but unbelievably cute town in the French region of Alsace, while Strasbourg is a beautiful city. Alsace changed between French and German hands a few times, and remains a cultural mix of the two countries.